Dates: May 22-31, 2026
Huayna Potosi is a 19,974ft (6,088m) peak located just outside of La Paz, Bolivia. It is considered one of the most attainable 6,000 meter peaks in the world, and we are so excited to be taking our first team to summit this awesome mountain. In addition to the climb itself, our team will spend an overnight touring the incredible Lake Titicaca. At more than 12,500ft, Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world.
Team members should plan to arrive in La Paz on May 22nd/23rd. Many flights land in the middle of the night (~2AM), so it is perfectly acceptable to arrive early morning on the 23rd. Team members should plan to depart on either May 30th/31st. Most departing flights from La Paz are scheduled very early in the morning (~4AM). We are happy to help you arrange your flights.
Cost: $2,950 (not including flights to La Paz)
- A non-refundable $737.50 deposit is required at the time of registration to secure your spot on the team. Please read our Trip Cancellation and Refund policy before registering for your adventure.
- $1,475 is due February 15th, 2026
- $2,212.50 is due March 15th, 2026
- $2,950 is due April 15th, 2026
- We will work with each individual client to arrange a payment schedule that works for them.
What is included:
- All ground transportation within Bolivia
- 5 nights hotel stay in La Paz, 1 night stay on Lake Titicaca, 2 nights stay in a mountain hut on Huayna Potosi
- All food throughout our time in Bolivia
- Climbing permits and technical climbing gear rental (crampons/ice ax/harness/etc.)
What is NOT included:
- You are required to purchase your own flights into and out of La Paz, Bolivia (LPB).
- You are responsible for your own Bolivia visa (~$160)
- You are responsible for your own climbing insurance (~$150). We will provide details about where and how to purchase insurance.
- Trip cost does not include tips. You should be prepared to tip somewhere between $100 and $200.
Trek Difficulty: Very Difficult
It is possible to summit Huayna Potosi and not be in top physical condition, but we wouldn’t recommend it. Most of the people who complete a Huayna Potosi summit will tell you it was the most physically demanding thing that they have ever done. This is due in large part to the extreme elevation (19,974ft) and the fact that the summit push requires a brutal gain of nearly 3,000 feet in one long sustained effort.
Consequently, we require all of the members of this team to devote themselves to a prolonged season (3 months minimum) of training leading up to their climb. Typical training will include a mix of smaller training hikes, strength work, and extensive cardiovascular exercise.
Itinerary:
Day 1
Depart the USA, arrive at La Paz, and settle into our team hotel. La Paz is located at almost at nearly 12,000ft, making it one of the highest cities in the world. It is not uncommon for people to struggle with headaches and have difficulty sleeping the first day or two at this elevation.
Day 2
This is a built in rest day. We will enjoy a relaxing day of sight seeing in La Paz and recovery from our international travel.
Day 3
We will depart our hotel in the morning for an overnight stay at Lake Titicaca. Lake Titicaca is the a very unique place. In addition to being the highest navigable lake in the world, it is considered to be the birthplace of the Incas and it is home to numerous ruins. We will enjoy touring the lake, do some light hiking, and continue our acclimatization.
Day 4
After our overnight at Lake Titicaca, we will travel back to La Paz to take care of any last minute details before our climb and get another good night’s rest.
Day 5
We will leave our hotel early in the morning to do an acclimatization climb of Pico Austria (17,454ft). Pico Austria is not technical, but the elevation is extreme, so this will definitely be a challenging day. The summit offers an incredible view of both Lake Titicaca and our ultimate target, Huayna Potosi. After summiting Pico Austria, we will return to our hotel in La Paz.
Day 6
Today we will begin our climb of Huayna Potosi. We will bus from La Paz to Huayna Potosi base camp at 15,400ft. We will have a quick lunch at base camp before spending the afternoon practicing some rope skills, ice climbing, and getting accustomed to ascending with crampons and an ice ax. We will spend this night in our sleeping bags on a mattress in a mountain hut. The accommodations are meager, but sufficient.
Day 7
Today we will spend the morning ascending to high camp a little above 17,000ft. After lunch, we will do our best to get some rest/sleep. We won’t lie to you–sleeping at this elevation is very tough. We will wake everyone up at midnight and begin our climb to the summit around 1:00AM.
Day 8
Today is summit day. We will climb a steep snow slope through the long cold night with hopes to be standing on the summit of Huayna Potosi at 19,974ft as the sun rises. It will take us another 3-4 hours to make our way back down to base camp where we will eat lunch and make our way back to our hotel in La Paz for a much needed shower and celebratory dinner.
Day 9
Most of the team will spend this day recovering in La Paz, but it is possible for those short on time to begin their journey home on this day.
Day 10
Travel back to the States.